Nationally,
October is Energy Awareness Month by presidential proclamation
since 1991. The aim is to promote public understanding
of our energy needs and to reduce energy consumption in
our everyday lives. The American Solar Energy Society
(ASES) announced its 14th annual National Solar Home Tour
in support of this important event. The national tour
is the world's largest grassroots solar event with more
than 150,000 participants annually, taking place in nearly
every state across the U.S. This fun event offers open-house
tours to show how a range of solar, sustainable, and green
building applications can be used to reduce monthly utility
bills, to live more comfortably within your local environment,
and to help improve climate change.

Here
in Arizona, Governor Jan Brewer proclaimed October to
be Solar and Sustainability Month.

Valley
of the Sun Tour Announced
Together, the Arizona Solar Energy Association (ASEA),
the Arizona Solar Center (AZSC) and the Scottsdale Green
Building Program, today announced the 2009 Valley Solar
and Sustainable Home Tour - " Living With the Sun
- Valley Style."

Chuck
Skidmore, ASEA Chairman, explains, "The sun's energy
falls on your roof every day. It can work for you, or
against you. This event is a great way to learn how it
can work for you."

The
free Valley metro area tour features 18 homes with a variety
of solar, Green, and sustainability techniques and technology
applications. Included are several green certified homes
under the Scottsdale Green Building Program and national
LEED certification program. This family-friendly tour
provides an informal way to meet people who are using
a whole range of approaches to make living in the desert
more comfortable, affordable and environmentally friendly.

"This
tour can be fun for the whole family. If you ever were
uncomfortable trying to tackle learning about sustainable
and solar living, now is the time to come out an meet
people who are happy to share their learning and experiences
in an informal setting", says Dan Aiello, Chairman
of AzSC.

New
for 2009
New for this year are homeowners who have used some of
the latest technologies such as thin film photovoltaic
panels, micro inverters, rain/water capture and re-use
systems, and a variety of Green and sustainable strategies
and products.

You
can also talk with people who have made "going sustainable,
Green and solar" more affordable by taking advantage
of the latest financing methods, utility rebates, and
higher tax credits. Some systems can now be easily expanded
as funds become available over time. ASES recently noted
that solar costs have decreased by close to 30% in the
last year and federal incentives have increased significantly.
Arizona continues to support this effort through helpful
laws, special permitting and property tax treatment, and
a tax credit.

Take
the Tour
The self-guided tour is free and will occur on Saturday,
October 24th and Sunday, October 25th, from 9 am to 4:30
pm each day. In keeping with the "sustainable"
theme, a down-loadable Guide Book will be posted a week
prior to the tour on the Az. Solar Center website, www.azsolarcenter.com,
and the Arizona Solar Energy Association website, www.arizonasolarenergy.org.
The Guide Book will provide locations, directions, times,
and features of each home.

Come
join the growing number of people who use the National
Solar Home Tour as their launching point to a more sustainable
and energy-wise way of life!

Statewide
Tour Announced
The Valley tour is part of a statewide, month long series
of tours as the Arizona component of the ASES 2009 National
Solar Home Tour. At the Az. Solar Center website (www.azsolarcenter.com)
you can also learn about all of the other Arizona tours
and other related upcoming events.

The
statewide Arizona tours, "Living with the Sun - Arizona
Style," feature a number of communities and open-houses
across our State. Communities include Winslow, Sedona,
Green Valley, and Tucson. Tour dates vary.

The
AzSC website acts as a central, one-stop on-line location,
for useful sustainable and solar information in Arizona.

Valley
Media Tours Available
Prior to the event, selected home tours in Mesa, Tempe,
Scottsdale and Phoenix can be arranged, to include interviews
with homeowners. For Media tour information contact: Randy
Bauder at 480-235-9119 or email randybauder@aol.com

About
the Arizona Solar Energy Association (ASEA)The Arizona Solar Energy Association (ASEA) is the
State Chapter of the American Solar Energy Society, the
largest solar energy organization in the United States.
ASEA is a non-profit organization founded in the 1970's
with the mission to educate the people of Arizona about
solar energy, its applications, and the benefits of utilizing
solar technologies. Membership is open to anyone who has
an interest in solar and other sustainable technologies.
More Information at www.arizonasolarenergy.org
Contact: email Chuck Skidmore, Chairman, at info@arizonasolarenergy.org

About
the Arizona Solar Center (AzSC)The Arizona Solar Center is a non-profit collaborative
of representatives from government, the universities,
solar and sustainability non-profit orgs like ASEA, the
solar equipment trade association (AriSEIA), the Az. solar
and Renewable Energy business and scientific community,
the Az. Utilities' solar and RE programs, and the design
and construction arena. The AzSC mission is to promote
the use and utilization of solar energy, renewable energy,
and sustainability in Arizona. For more information visit
the AzSC website: www.azsolarcenter.com
Contact: email Daniel Aiello, Chairman, at solar@azsolarcenter.com

About
the Scottsdale Green Building ProgramThe Green Building Program encourages a whole-systems
approach through design and building techniques to minimize
environmental impact and reduce the energy consumption
of buildings while contributing to the health of its occupants.
Learn more at www.scottsdaleaz.gov/greenbuilding
Contact: Green Building Program, 480-312-7080

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v2.
10/12/09

For
more information, contact: Daniel Peter Aiello, 602-952-8192,
or j2envarch@aol.com.